Agriculture and food systems were the key themes at COP27, which was held in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, between November 7 and November 18, this year. Countries were required to make promises regarding their agricultural sector, forests, and soils. Food systems around the world need to be transformed in order to achieve a net-zero, environmentally friendly society because they account for nearly one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. Through collaborations between various governments, nonprofits, agri-tech companies, and farmers, the world will move toward food systems that are healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable by embracing vertical farming technologies.
Growing horticultural crops vertically, on top of one another, as opposed to in the more conventional horizontal rows, is known as “vertical farming.” Vertical farming facilities allow for the use of a variety of growing media, including soil, organic matter, hydroponics, and aeroponics. In harsh environments with little arable land, such deserts, mountainside communities, and metropolitan areas, vertical farms are often used. The majority of horticultural crops thrive in this skyscraper-like environment when precision agricultural techniques are used. For better natural light exposure, vertical farms use enclosed structures stacked vertically, either immediately above or staggered from one another, thus resembling greenhouses. If maximizing space is a need, hydroponics is employed as a growing medium rather of soil or organic matter to enable reduced weight and lower water consumption by up to 70%.
The idea of vertical farming is not new. It dates back to ancient times because the original one is referred to as “The Hanging Gardens of Babylon” and was constructed between 605 and 562 BC, under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II. This first vertical farm comprised impressive structures that could exceed 20 metres in height and levels of arching garden terraces with the finest plants available at the period, according to archaeologists and paleontologists. They demonstrated great engineering prowess and inventiveness in the creation of the chain pump, which provided access to water from the Euphrates River. Consequently, water from the gardens’ base was transferred to a catchment or pool on the upper floor. This effective method of water distribution and maintenance is unquestionably a distinguishing feature of vertical farming. The Floating Gardens of Aztecs-Chinampas, which took place thousands of years ago, is the second example of this technology. The term ‘Vertical farming’ was coined by an American geologist Gilbert Ellis Bailey in 1915. This idea was put into practice in the 20th century in Armenia in 1951 with the installation of tower hydroponic units. It was constructed at a time when greenhouse and hydroponic systems were extensively researched, and its primary purpose was space exploration. In an effort to reduce carbon footprint, Professor Dickson Despommier discovered the concept in 1991 and tested it by moving food production facilities closer to consumers. More scientists are now investigating the idea in an effort to reduce global food demand, foster resilience in precision agriculture, and address land constraints so that enough food can be produced to feed the world’s population.
Interesting advantages of vertical farming include the extremely efficient use of land due to this technology’s ability to produce more crops per hector than traditional farming methods; efficient use of water, as crops grown vertically require up to 5% water per hector than traditional water consumption; Since the crops are continuously growing in a vertical farm setting, harvesting occurs year-round, which reduces food insecurity and hunger; high quality produce because they are cultivated in a controlled-agriculture environment proven to yield nutritious and delicious produce; The term “climate agnostic” refers to the fact that this technology may be utilized in a variety of climatic settings and is extremely reliable (from the desert to the tundra and even in space farming); able to produce many harvests annually due to the year-round indoor growing season; as a result of lower pest and disease risk, no agrochemicals are used. There is a catch to this idea, however how well-liked it is. It is pricey because a substantial amount of money will be spent on power for artificial lighting, controlled environments of vast volumes to maintain the ideal temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels for growing crops, labor costs, rent, and depreciation of capital equipment.
In modern urban African cities, vertical farming is advised to be implemented, and regionally, vertical farming is growing popular in South Africa as more residential and industrial areas are encroaching on agricultural land. This technology is excellent and can flourish in Botswana’s climate. The beauty of it is that we can put up small-scale vertical farming in our backyard gardens to complement our family’s nutrition. Our nation will undoubtedly be self-sufficient in horticulture crops if taken seriously and implemented on a broad scale.
